Jealous teenage ex-boyfriend produces axe in Limerick incident

A JEALOUS ex-boyfriend produced an axe and tried to pull his former girlfriend from a car after seeing a video of her with somebody else, Limerick Circuit Court heard.

The defendant, who cannot be named as he was a young person at the time, pleaded guilty to producing an article capable of inflicting serious injury - a long handled axe - in a village in west Limerick.

Judge Dermot Sheehan said: “The background seems to be pangs of jealousy at the end of a relationship but nothing could justify this extraordinary outburst by this young man which clearly terrified the people involved.”

Prosecuting barrister Lily Buckley, instructed by State Solicitor Aidan Judge, outlined the evidence with the assistance of Garda William McElligott.

Ms Buckley said the accused was in a relationship with a young girl for a few years.

“There was a change in his behaviour. He became intense and was jealous of her having male friends and socialising with others,” said Ms Buckley.

The court heard the teenage relationship ended. Ms Buckley said on a date in April, 2022, the girl and her mother were in their car when the defendant approached them with the axe.

“He attempted to pull her (his ex-girlfriend) out of the car. He was clearly quite agitated and had a threatening demeanour,” said Ms Buckley.

They drove off with the accused throwing a hammer in the direction of the vehicle. The mother or daughter didn’t wish to make a victim impact statement but the court heard they were “terrified”.

The young man was arrested and told gardai he “just wanted to scare them” and “said he wasn’t thinking”.

Garda McElligott asked him, during a garda interview, why he did it? The accused said he had seen a video of his ex-girlfriend with somebody else. The court heard he was sorry and has no previous convictions.

Ms Buckley asked the garda if matters had settled? “Very much so,” said Garda McElligott.

Kenneth Kerins, defence barrister, said it was a frightening experience for his client’s ex-girlfriend and her mother.

“He was 17 and a very immature 17. He has an apprenticeship earning €450 a week. It is a serious matter. He has pleaded guilty and expressed his remorse,” said Mr Kerins.

Judge Dermot Sheehan said the production of a long handled axe was to intimidate people that were there.

“This is a serious matter. The background seems to be pangs of jealousy at the end of a relationship but nothing could justify this extraordinary outburst by this young man which clearly terrified the people involved,” said Judge Sheehan.

The judge noted the guilty plea, remorse expressed by the accused and things have appeared to have settled down.

Judge Sheehan handed down an 18 month prison sentence which he suspended in its entirety.